Air distributor for oil burners



May 5, 1936 J. G. GILMORE Er Al.

AIR DISTRIBUTOR FOR OIL BURNERS Filed March 4, 1955 wm@ 5w a wn @M /wf www@ www,

Patented May 5, 193,6

AIR DISTRIBUTOR FOR OIL BURNERS Jackson G. Gilmore and Milton D. Huston, Columbus, Ohio, assignors to Franklin Oil Heating Inc., Columbus, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application March 4, 1935, Serial No. 9,248

13 Claims.

This invention relates to oil burning apparatus and has for an object to provide an appa.- ratus of that character in which primary air is admixed with oil vapor or gas and subsequently secondary air is added to the mixture to support complete combustion.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel central air distributing member for regulating the delivery of primary and secondary'air to the vaporized or gasified fuel arising from the bottom of the vaporizing receptacle or retort, the construction of the air distributing member being such as to effect thorough and intimate commingling of desired quantities of alr with the vaporized or gasifled fuel, first to produce a primary combustible mixture and second to supply suicient air to effect ilnal combustion of said mixture in a substantially noiseless, smokeless and non-carbon formlng manner.

These and other objects will be more fully set forth and described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of oil burning apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention, disclosing the same operatively positioned in connection with the lower portion of a furnace;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the burner head and disclosing more particularly the central air distributing member to which the present invention is directed;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view through the upper portion of the distributor on the plane indicated by the line III-III of Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral III designates a furnace of a type suitable for use in the heating of dwellings. In combination with such a furnace, the present invention utilizes oil burning apparatus which includes an open topped mixing vessel, designated by the numeral II. The oil burning apparatus may be of the general type disclosed in the prior patent of A. J. Frame, No. 1,924,092, the present invention differing from the disclosures of said patent particularly in the construction of the central air distributor, indicated at I2 in the drawing.

The vessel II may be in the form of a bowlshaped casting provided near its upper region with an annular flange I3, which is supported in connection with a sheet metal exterior casing I4. Centrally, the vessel Il is provided with an upwardly directed tubular extension I5, and a conduit I6 communicates with. the interior of the casing I4 and extends to a motor driven fan I6a by which air under superatmospheric pressure may be delivered to the apparatus. The ange I3 is provided with a plurality of upwardly 5 directed vertically disposed ports I1, and below the flange I3, the vessell I is formed with an angularly directed deiiector web I8, in which are formed ports I9, the ports I'I and I9 providing for the formation of upwardly directed jets of lo air around the perimeter of the open top of the vessel I I. 1 An oil supply pipe 20 enters the bottom of the vessel Il for producing a film of oil for vaporizing or gasication purposes over the bottom of said vessel. Any suitable thermostatically 15 controlled valve means, as indicated at 20a, may be employed for regulating the flow of oil to the vessel II.

In order to burn oil to produce smokeless elcient combustion, we utilize the principles of pro- 20 ducing an intermediate hydroxylated mixture, after the disclosures in the prior patent of James L. Breese, Jr., No. 1,702,929, patented February 19, 1929, wherein gaseous or vaporized hydrocarbons arising from the bottom of the vessel and 25 liberated by the heat of combustion taking place above thevessel, are mixed with regulated quantities of air in amounts insuillclent to ailord active combustion until the mixture is discharged from the upper portions of the vessel and 30 reaches a desired zone of combustion where it is mixed with a nal supply of air capable of eiecting and supporting active combustion.

To produce these en ds eiciently, very careful design of the central air distributor I2 is re- 35 quired since slight excesses or deficiencies in the primary and secondary delivery of air to the fuel mixture result in marked changes in the operating characteristics of the apparatus, causing frequently soot and carbon deposit of an` objec- 40 tlonable character, undesired variations in the level of the active combustion zone, which should be in a horizontal plane defining the top of the air distributor, Vor in causing the apparatus to operate noisily and/or produce objectionable odors. After prolonged experimentation, we have developed an air distributor which both laboratory and commercial uses disclose to possess the features of design and arrangement by which the air supply is so controlled as to produce highly efficient operation and 'to overcome the objections which have been noted in certain previous designs.

y The air distributor, in the form of the invention here under consideration, comprises a lower er walls thereof.

head or shell section 2|, open at its bottom and irictionally positioned in the upper end of the axial bowl extension I5, so that air obtained under pressure from the conduit I3 will be delivered to the interior of the shell section 2|. This shell section is provided with a plurality of rows of carefully proportioned apertures 22, some of which are directed downwardly toward the bottom of the vaporizing chamber while others are directed outwardly and radially toward the out- It will be understood that the apertures 22 possess such a total area that the air supplied therethrough to the interior of the mixing vessel will be sumcient merely to produce a mixture of hydrocarbon vapors and air, but insufncient to support activecombustion. 'I'his primary mixture is known in. the art'as ai hydroxylated mixture, and its specific characteristics have been defined in the aforesaid patent to 4Breese.

a threaded sleeve 29, forming a part of said line. By disconnecting the sleeve 23` from the elbow 23, awasher 24 of desired diameter may be operatively placed in the lower end of the air distributor pipe 23. The gas pilot 21 projects through the shell section 2| and terminates slightly above the bottom of the vessel Ii, whereby to be in a position to initiate combustion and the operation of the apparatus whenever oil is admitted into the bottom of the vessel il through the supply line 29 and associated mechanism.

Carried by the top of the pipe 23 is an upper distributing head 29, the latter comprising a pair of reversely concaved metallic plates 39 and 3|, which are suitably united with their peripheral edges in spaced relationship to produce. an annular slot 32, by means of the threaded spacing and securing elements'33. The lower plate 3| is formed with a boss 34 which is frictionally inserted in the upper end of the pipe 23. Air

passing upwardly through thepipe 23 enters the head v29 and ilaows radially and horizontally from said head by passing outwardly through the slot 32, thereby delivering a suilicient amount of additional oxygen to the hydroxylated mixture arising from the open top of the vessel ll'to produce a final mixture for combustion purposes. Usually, in the operation oi' the apparatus, combustion takes place in the form of an annular horizontal `sheet projecting from the distributing head 29, this sheet being spaced well above the top of the mixing vessel. The height of the sheet is maintained by the jets of air directed upwardly from the peripheral openings provided in the iiange I3, which jets of airserve to conii'ne the hydroxylated mixture to substantially the diameter of the vessel Il until such mixture falls within the zone of influence of the air issuing from the slot 32 in the head 29, thus causing v complete consumption of all of the fuel particles and eliminating or minimizing odor resulting from the escape of unburned fuel. It is well understood that emcient combustion of a hydroxylated fuel mixture of the character set forth avoids undesirable carbon or soot formation.

One oi' the outstanding featuresof the present invention resides in surrounding the pipe 23 between the lower head or shell section 2| and the upper distributing head 29 witha conduit 35 having the walls thereof freely apertured as at 39. Airls admitted into .the annular space 31 formed between the pipe 23 and the `conduit 35, by providing the top of thevshell section 2| with a plurality of openings 33 of relatively small diameter, preferably four in number. Air is also admitted into the upper portions of the annular space 31 by providing the lower plate 3| of the distributing head with a row of apertures 39 which establish communication between the interior of the head 29 and an annular chamber I0 formed between the head 29 and a deiiector ring 9| carried by the upper end of the apertured conduit 35. 'I'he lower horizontal wall 42 of the ring 4| is also provided with a plurality of apertures I3 corresponding in number with the apertures 33, so that air under small superatmospheric.' pressures will be admitted into the space 31 and permitted to escape radiallytherefrom through the multiple rows of apertures 35 provided in the conduit 35 throughout its height. The air passing outwardly from the conduit 35 assists in the further hydroxylation of lthe fuel mixture and/or may permit of a limited amount of combustion around the outer surfaces of said conduit below the distributor head for the purpose of drawing the combustion zone of the burner closer to the peripheral edge of the distributing head 29 than heretofore so as to quiet the operation of the burner and reduce the noise of combustion to a far greater extent-than has been heretofore attained with the use of apparatus of this character. This result is'further attained by spacing the upper edge of the deilector ring 4| from the head plate 3|, whereby to produce an annular vent N so that a portion of the air which passes through the openings in the lower plate 3| will pass out from the distributor by way of the. vent 44, thereby supplying an added quantity ot air to the fuel mixture, at positions close to the distributor head so that complete combustion of such mixture may take place substantially at the periphery of the distributor head in order to reduce the blasting eifect incident to the noisy escape oi' air from the outer rim of the distributor head.

It will be Obvious that our invention is susceptible to modification and departure from the form illustrated, and we therefore do not wish to be restricted to such form except as denned in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In oil burning apparatus, an oil receiving bowl, a hollow open-air ended distributor arising vertically and axially from the bottom of said bowl, said distributor including lower and upper apertured heads for the release respectively of primary and secondary air streams from the distributor, a cylindrical perforate outer shell disposed between said heads, said shell being in communication with the 'lower head and terminating adjacent to the-upper of said heads, an imperforate tube arranged within said shell and spaced from the walls of the latter, said tube serving to conduct secondary air from the bottom of said distributor to the upper of said heads, means for metering the amountof air entering the bottom of said tube. and means for supplying air under pressure to the lower portion of the distributor. A

2. In oil burning apparatus, an oil receiving bowl, an air distributor disposed vertically and axially of said bowl and comprising lower and upper apertured heads for the release of primary andsecondary air streams respectively from said distributor, a shell provided with numerous small perforations disposed between said upper and lower heads, said shell being in communication with the lower head and terminating at its upper end adjacent to the upper oi said heads, a tube arranged within said shell and serving to conduct air from the bottom of the distributorl directly to the upper of said heads, and means for metering the ilow of air into said-tube.

3. In oil burning apparatus, an oil receiving bowl, an air distributor arising vertically and centrally from said bowl, said distributor comprising spaced upper and lower heads, the lower of said heads having an outer wall thereof provided with rows of openings disposed todirect jets of air in a radial and horizontal direction from said head and also in a downwardly and outwardly direction toward the bottom of said bowl, a cylindrical shell communicating with the interior of and rising from the lower oi.' said heads and terminating adjacent to said upper head, the outer wall of said shell being provided with rows of numerous smaller perforations for directing air outwardly and horizontally from the distributor in successive horizontal planes vdisposed above the lower of said heads, the upper of said heads comprising a pair of opposed and spaced convex members, the spacing of said members producing an annular slot in the peripheral portion of the upper head, and a tube passing through the lower of said heads and said shell and spaced therefrom for conducting air directly from the bottom of the distributor to the upper of said heads.'

4. In oil burning apparatus, an oil receiving bowl, an air distributor disposed vertically and axially of said bowl and comprising lower and upper apertured heads for the release of primary and secondary air streams respectively from said distributor, means for delivering air under pressure to the lower portion of said distributor, a perforate outer cylindrical shell disposed between said heads, said shell communicating at its lower end with the interior of said lower head and terminating at its upper end adjacent to the upper of said heads but slightly spaced therefrom to provide an annular air outlet slot therebetween, an apertured air flow regulating baille wall arranged between the lower of said heads and said shell, and an axially disposed tube extending through the lower oi.' s aid heads and said shell for delivering air under pressure directly to the upper head.

5. 'I'he structure as speciiled in claim 4, in combination with means for metering the ilow of air into the lower portion oi' said tube.

6.'In oil burning apparatus, an oil receiving bowl, an air distributor arising centrally and axially from said bowl and comprising lower and upper apertured heads for the release of primary and secondary air streams respectively from said distributor, a perforate outer cylindrical shell disposed between said heads, the lower portion of said shell being in communication with the lower of said heads and the upper portion of said shell terminating adjacent to but in spaced relation from the upper of said heads, a sleeve extending through the lower of said heads and said shell and spaced from the walls of the latter to deliver air directly to the upper of said heads, apertorated air iiow regulating baille disposed between said tube and the lower portion of said shell. a second perforated air flow regulating bame disposed between said tube and the upper portion o! said shell, and an outwardly and upwardly directed ilange carried by the upper end o! said shell and spaced from the upper of said heads to provide an annular air releasing space.

7. An air distributor for oil burners comprising vertically spaced upper and lower apertured heads, a shell disposed between said heads and having the wall thereof formed with numerous small perforations, said shell at its lower end communicating with the lower of said heads and terminating at its upper end adjacent to the upper of said heads, an imperforate tube extending axially through said shell for delivering air supplied to the bottom of the distributor directly to the upper of said heads. and aperturedv air flow regulating bailles connecting said tube with said shell.

8. An air distributor for oil burnerscompris- `ing spaced upper and lower apertured heads,

a shell disposed between said heads and of smaller wall thereof formed with numerous apertures of small diameter, the lower end of said shell being in communication with the lower of said heads and the upper end of said shell terminating ad jacent to but spaced from the upper of said heads to produce an annular air outlet slot, a tube longitudinally and axially kthrough said shell for delivering air to the upper of said heads, said tube having imperforate walls, and upper and lower air ilow regulating and spacing rings disposed between said shell and said tube, said rings being apertured for the vz s: e of air therethrough.

9. An air distributor for oil burners comprising a lower head having vertically and ansularly disposed rows of openings in the outer thereof, an outer cylindrical shell carried by and extending upwardly from said head, said shell having its wall provided with numerous apertures of small diameter the lower end of said shell communicating with the lower of s aid heads and the upper end of said shell terminating adjacent to the upper oi' said heads, a tube extending axially and longitudinally through said shell and spaced from the wall thereof, apertured air ilow regulating and spacing rings disposed between the upper and lower portions of said shell and said tube, an upper head carried by the upper end of said tube, said upper head consisting of a pair oi.' opposed and relatively spaced convexmembers, the spacing of said members producing an annular slot for the escape of air from the peripheral portion of said upper head, and an annular lip carried by the upper end oi.' said shell and terminating in spaced relation from the lower of the convex members forming the upper head to provide for air flow along the lower and outer part of the upper head.

10. In oil burning apparatus, an oil' receiving bowl, means for delivering regulated quantities 'diameter than said heads, said shell having the of oilto the bottom of said bowl, a casing'in whichsaid bowl is supported, means for delivering air release of air from the distributor, said shell com' Y municating -at its lower end with the interior of bowl, said distributor comprising spaced upper and lower apertured heads, a shell disposed between the upper and lower ot said heads and formed with numerous small periorations for the release of air from the distributor, said shell communicating at its lower end with the interior ofthe lower oi' said heads and terminating at its upper end adiacent to the upper oi said heads, an imperiorate tube extending axially through saidshell from the bottom oi the distributor to deliver air directly from. said casini to the upper of said heads, and means for regulating the 'inflow oi air into said tube.

ll'. In oil burning apparatus, an oil receiving` bowl, means for delivering regulated quantities oi oil to the bottom oi said bowl, a casing in which said bowl is supported, means ior delivering air under pressure to the bottom oi. said casing below said bowl, a collar arising axially and vertically from the bottom o! said bowl. said collar being in open -communication with'the interior oi said=casing, an air distributor mounted on said collar and arising axially and vertically from said bowl, said"distributor comprising spaced upper and lower apertured heads, a shell disposed between the upper and lower of said heads and formed with numerous 4small periorations i'or the the'lower of said heads and terminating at its upper emi adjacent to the upper of saidheads, an imperiorate tube extending axially through said shell iromsthe bottom oi' the distributor to deliver air directly from said casing to the upper of said heads, a gas pilot conduit entering the bottom or said tube and including a pair ot separable members, and a metering disk removably clamped between said separable members, said disk being spaced from the walls of said tube to meter the inow of air into said tube.

12. In oil burning apparatus, an open-topped oil receiving receptacle, means for delivering regamasar walled tube extending axially through said dik tributar and leading'from the bottom of the latter to the upper of said heads, the lower portion oi saidtubebeingspacedirom thcwallsoithelower' head, means ior supplying air under forced ilow to the bottom ot said distributor, a perforated shell arising from and in communication with the lower of said heads, said shell surrounding said tube and being spaced eoncentrically therefrom, and a deiiector ring formed with the upper end of said shell and disposed-adjacent to but spaced from the under portion oi the upper head to deliver a stream oi air merging with that issuing from the upper head.

13." An air distributor forA hydroxylating oil burners comprising spaced upper and lower air outlet heads, an open-ended A tube communicating at its upper end with the upper of said-heads',l an apertured baille wall unitingf the lower'oi said heads with said tube. a cylindrical periorate walled shell concentrically surrounding said tube and communicating with the lower of said heads through the perforations in said baille wall, a second perforated baille wail spacing the upper portions oi said shell and said tube. and a deiiector ring formed with the upper endoi said shell and terminating adjacent to but in spaced relationship i'rom the under side oithe upper oi said heads,.whereby toprovide an annular air discharge space immediately below said-head and contiguous to its outer peripheral portion.

JACKSON G. GILMORE. MILTON D. -HUBTONX 

